Apparatus for determining the fluidity of molten metals



May 6, 1952 H. A. REECE APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE FLUIDITY OF MOLTEN METALS Filed March 31 1950 rife INVENTOR. HERBERT A. Reece ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE FLUIDITY F MOLTEN METALS Herbert A. Reece, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application March 31, 1950, Serial N 0. 153,137

posed for use in foundry work, for the purposev of determining the suitability of the metal for the castings to be poured. The first generally accepted method of testing the fluidity of molten metal was that introduced in 1931 by Saeger and Krynitsky, and described in pages 513-532 of the Transactions of the American Foundrymens Association, vol. 39, 1931. Another test is described in the Currie Patent No. 2,395,254, issued February 19, 1946.

Due to the fact that in neither of the foregoingv methods is any provision made for controlling the height from which the metal is poured, the fluidity measurements are not accurate. In the free fall of molten metal, the metal develops a velocity, which can be readily measured or deter-:

mined. In a 6 inch fall, for example, the metal develops a velocity of 5.67 feet per second, while in a one foot fall, the same metal develops a velocity of 8.03 feet per second. In this way,

different fiuidities from the same ladle of iron are:

obtained, depending upon the height at which the pourer holds his ladle.

In the Saeger-Krynitsky method, an overflow is provided at the top of the pouring basin, so

that only a predetermined amount of moltenv metal will be held in the pouring basin, but this is of no value if the pourer continues to pour, and moreover, no provision is made for informing the pourer when to stop pouring.

Another disadvantage of both of the aforesaid methods, and perhaps, the greatest, lies in the fact that no provision is made in either method for controlling or determining the point or area at which the pourer should pour the metal. As a consequence, difi'erent fluidity measurements or results are obtained, depending upon where the metal is poured in relation to the down gate or pouring basin of the fluidity mold.

As the result of considerable experimental work and tests, I have developed apparatus for measuring fluidity, which overcomes all of the disadvantages of the above methods, and through the use of which, tests can be poured by anyone, with results which check, the cost of the molds necessary for the tests are reduced, and the time required for making the tests is materially shortened.

The invention can perhaps be best described.

with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apparatus for conducting tests in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a test specimen, as removed from the mold, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3,

the apparatus will be seen to comprise a mold or core, preferably made of sand, and comprising a base portion I and an upper portion 2. The base portion has a central circular recess 3 in its upper face, from whicha spiral groove 4 extends, the recess and groove having side walls which converge toward each other in a downward direction, to facilitate molding or core making and removal of the test piece. The spiral groove 4 is of uniform width for the entire length thereof, except at the junction of its inner end with the recess 3, where it gradually widens, as indicated at 3', until its width approaches the diameter of the recess 3. This flaring of the spiral groove is of advantage in that it facilitates flow of the test metal from the recess 3 into the groove 4.

The upper portion 2 of the mold has a centrally-disposed substantially hemispherical pouring basin 5 in its upper face, which communicates at its lower central portion With a down gate 6. The down gate 6 extends vertically for a short distance and communicates at its lower end with a circular recess 1 in the bottom face of the portion 2 of the mold. The recess 7 is of the same diameter as the upper end of the recess 3 and is in registry with the recess 3.

The apparatus further incldues a metallic ring 8 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the mold part 2, about the basin 5. The ring 8 serves as a weight for preventing displacement of the mold part 2 from the mold part 1 during use of the mold, and is provided with a series of circumferentially-spaced radial passageways 9 in its lower face, which serve a purpose to be presently described.

The apparatus further includes a lift pipe or tube [0 having a curved or rebent portion II at its upper end, and a flared lower end [2, which serves as a chuck for a carbonstopper rod l3 having a tapered lower end I l. The upper end of the rod I3 is firmly gripped in the flared end !2 of the rod It), as by means of a lock nut 1-5. The lock nut I5 is adjusted downwardly to cause if 3 the end I2 of the rod ill to grip the rod 13. and may be adjusted upwardly to relieve the gripping pressure, when the rod 3 is to be replaced with a new rod.

In pouring a test specimen or test piece to determine the fluidity of the molten metal, the ladle l6, containing the molten metal, is held approximately in the position indicated in solid lines, which is the pouring position, the metal being poured as rapidly as possible into the pouring basin 5. Due to the closure of the down gate 6 by the rod IS, the metal cannot flow into the down gate, so that pouring is continued until the basin is filled. The openings 9 in the ring 8 permit overflow of metal from the basin.

At the conclusion of the pouring operation, the ladle i6 is elevated to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and on continued upward movement, the ladle engages the portion 1 i of the pipe l0, causing the pipe I and the rod Hi to be elevated. This uncovers the down gate I 4, so that the metal in the basin flows through the down gate, through the recesses i and 3, and into the spiral groove 4. Since the pouring is discontinued prior to the flow of the molten metal into the down gate, a uniform pressure head of molten metal is assured. Reference marks are placed at uniformly spaced intervals along the spiral groove as an aid in determining the length of the spiral test piece.

Due to the fact that the pressure head of molten metal in the basin is uniform for all pourings, the velocity of the molten metal is always the same, so that the fluidity measurements are accurate and comparable.

By restraining the flow of metal into the downgate until the basin has been filled, the pressure head will always be the same, thereby eliminating errors due to continuance of pouring.

It will also be obvious that the point or area at which the pourer pours the metal is always the same, so that the source of error arising from lack of control of the point or area of pouring is also eliminated. In this connection, it may be noted that the results are the same irrespective of the point along the circumference of the ring 8 from which the ladle is positioned. This is due to the use of a hemispherical basin and the location of the down gate at the center of the basin.

The testing may be performed by anyone, even an unskilled person, and the results are positive. The construction of the molds or cores and the size of the test piece makes for economy in testing and in setting up the apparatus for testing, and also reduces the cost of the mold. The time of testing is also shortened considerably.

It will be understood that various changes can be made in the apparatus used, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for testing the fluidity of molten metals, said apparatus comprising a mold consaid lower portion has a centrally-disposed recess communicating with the inner end of said spiral groove.

3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 2, in which said upper portion has a downgate extending from the central lower portion of said basin, and a centrally-disposed recess below said downgate and in registry with the recess in said lower portion.

4. Apparatus for testing the fluidity of molten metals, said apparatus comprising a mold consisting of a lower portion having a spiral groove therein, and an upper portion having a centrally disposed substantially hemispherical basin of relatively large diameter and of a volume adapted to hold more of the molten metal than is required for a single test specimen, there being a passageway between said basin and said groove,

adapted to be closed by a stopper.

5. Apparatus for testing the fluidity of molten metals, said apparatus comprising a mold consisting of a lower portion and an upper portion, said upper portion having a centrally disposed basin into which molten metal is to be poured, said lower portion having a spiral groove therein, and. an annular metallic ring resting on said upper mold portion about said basin, said ring havingin its lower face a series of uniformly and circumierentially-spaced radially-extending passageways, providing overflow openings for said basin, there being a passageway between said basin and said groove, adapted to be closed by a stopper.

6. Apparatus for determining the fluidity of molten metal, said apparatus comprising a basin adapted to receive a quantity of the molten metal to be tested, said basin including an outlet, 3. stopper for said outlet for holding the molten metal in the basin until a predetermined head of molten metal is attained, and said apparatus being provided below said outlet with a test cavity into which the molten metal flows when the stopper is removed.

7. Apparatus for determining the fluidity of molten metal, said apparatus comprising a basin adapted to receive a quantity of the molten metal to be tested, said basin including an outlet, a stopper for said outlet for holding the molten metal in the basin until a predetermined head of molten metal is attained, and said apparatus being provided below said outlet with a spiral groove into which the molten metal flows when the stopper is removed.

HERBERT A. REECE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 943,830 Huss Dec. 21, 1909 2,154,967 Wurster Apr. 18, 1939 2,295,710 Bostwick. Sept. 15, 1942 2,366,581 Whittaker Jan. 2, 1945 2,395,254 Currie Feb. 19, 1946 2,523,471 Lally Sept. 26, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 660,106 Germany May 18, 1938 

6. APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE FLUIDITY OF MOLTEN METAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OF THE MOLTEN METAL TO BE TESTED, SAID BASIN INCLUDING AN OUTLET, A STOPPER FOR SAID OUTLET FOR HOLDING THE MOLTEN METAL IN THE BASIN UNTIL A PREDETERMINED HEAD OF MOLTEN METAL IS ATTAINED, AND SAID APPARATUS BEING PROVIDED BELOW SAID OUTLET WITH A TEST CAVITY INTO WHICH THE MOLTEN METAL FLOWS WHEN THE STOPPER IS REMOVED. 